Cruse Bereavement Care

Cruse Bereavement Care is the leading national charity providing bereavement support services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It offers support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies and works to enhance society’s care of bereaved people.

Cruse offers face-to-face, telephone, email and website support. It has a Freephone National Helpline and local services throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and a website hopeagain.org.uk specifically for children and young people. Cruse’s services are provided by trained volunteers and are confidential and free. In 2015 the organisation reached over 100,000 people.

In 1984 Her Majesty The Queen became the Patron of Cruse Bereavement Care, which was celebrated at an event at the Royal Albert Hall with Her Majesty in attendance.

Her Majesty has since hosted Cruse’s 40th Anniversary in 1999 and then the organisation’s Golden Jubilee in 2009 both at St James’s Palace, and every year Cruse writes to the Palace to let Her Majesty know of all the charity’s activity.

The organisation greatly enjoys receiving her letters back, and her words are shared with volunteers and staff.

Debbie Kerslake Chief Executive, Cruse Bereavement Care said “It is such a privilege that Her Majesty The Queen has been our Patron for the past 32 years. It means a great deal to our staff and 5,000 volunteers to have the vital work that we do – providing somewhere to turn when someone dies and enhancing society’s awareness of bereavement – recognised in this way.

Through her patronage her Majesty demonstrates that she understands the emotional devastation that a bereavement can bring and the need for support to be there for all who need it – children, young people and adults at such a difficult time.

The letters and good wishes that Cruse receives from the Palace are cherished and we have been delighted that Her Majesty The Queen has attended special Cruse celebrations from our 25th anniversary celebration at the Royal Albert Hall to our Golden Jubilee reception at St James’s Palace. Cruse is delighted to be part of The Patron’s Lunch on occasion of Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th Birthday”

Patrick’s Story

Please Click the video link below to view Patrick’s Story

Patrick has been involved with the Cruse Youth Advisory Group (YAG) since 2007. After losing his father to a heart attack when he was just nine, Patrick was eventually introduced to Cruse. For many years he has played a key role in YAG–speaking to his peers at school assemblies, helping interview and train Cruse volunteers and staff.